When Next We Meet: The Waterboys take it to a new level

When Next We Meet, Clonmel’s boutique music festival, truly hit its stride by expanding into a full three-day format for its fifth-anniversary edition this year.

The jewel in the crown of 2026's June Bank Holiday line-up was undoubtedly the Sunday schedule, which successfully paired high-energy alternative folk and rock with the festival’s signature intimate, community-driven charm. And of course a full-on star-turn, in the legendary form of The Waterboys.

When Next We Meet is hosted in the beautiful, leafy grounds of the Raheen House Hotel, and the festival grounds provided an idyllic backdrop for a lovely summer evening’s music. The weather played along perfectly, allowing the boutique set-up to shine. The transition between the vibrant main stage area and the cozy, discovery-focused Hidden Gems Stage felt fluid, keeping the enthusiastic crowd of music lovers spread evenly across the site.

Early arrivals were treated to captivating, atmospheric sets on the Hidden Gems Stage, from rising talents like Ae Mak (pictured) – whose excellent, brand new debut album Folk Songs For Mama & Papa has been widely acclaimed – Cáit Ní Riain, Ruairí De Leastar and Charcoal Greys. This stage remains the beating heart of the festival's commitment to independent artistry, including a strong local emphasis.

On the main stage, the afternoon kicked into gear with the rising Tipp/Cork outfit MDR, followed by a brilliant, foot-stomping performance from Jukebox Gypsy that really got the crowd moving.

Serving as the ultimate bridge to the night's headliners, alt-trad heavyweights MOXIE delivered a masterclass in contemporary Irish/French/Tunisian/World Music fusion. They genuinely are the real deal. Their seamless blending of traditional Irish instruments with progressive, festival-ready rhythms – and the powerful presence of Julia Spanu (pictured) out front – raised the temperature perfectly for what was to come.

Marking a massive milestone for the festival, with its first major international headliner, The Waterboys delivered a set that encapsulated both the band's immense ties to Ireland and the festival’s growth over the past five years.

Led by the indefatigable Mike Scott (pictured), the band tapped into their deep connection with Irish audiences from the very first chord. Their sprawling catalogue – effortlessly shifting between blistering rock, soulful folk, and soaring Celtic traditions – sounded massive yet remained remarkably intimate within the walled gardens of Raheen House.

The crowd found its collective voice during a transcendent run of their landmark anthems. Hearing the opening keys of 'The Whole of the Moon' ring out over the Clonmel crowd was a special moment; this was followed by a raucous, communal sing-along to the evergreen 'Fisherman’s Blues', providing the perfect, very Irish, emotional crescendo to close out the weekend.

After an excellent Saturday, the Sunday finale offered a finely-tuned exercise in festival curation. By stepping up their booking ambition while keeping their independent, local ethos intact, the team behind When Next We Meet have cemented this festival as a crown jewel of the Irish boutique summer circuit.

Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir...